The power and importance of Pope Francis’ words about same-sex civil unions cannot be overstated

“Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family […] What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered.” With these words, uttered in a new documentary, Francesco, which premiered at the Rome Film Festival on Wednesday, Pope Francis has sent shockwaves around the Catholic world.

While he had previously shown occasional signs of warmth towards LGBTQ+ individuals, and had endorsed same-sex civil unions as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, this is the first time he has explicitly supported them as pontiff – thus making him the first Pope in history to do so.

All of this has left many, both in and outside of the Catholic Church, questioning how one ought to interpret what appears to be an unprecedented expression of openness towards gay people and their families. It may be tempting to downplay the significance of the Pope’s statement, but as a born and confirmed (albeit lapsed) Catholic myself, and a bisexual man, I cannot overstate the power and importance of hearing such words coming from a pontiff.

From both a secular and theological perspective, it’s easy to find ways to dismiss the Pope’s declaration as being tame and, crucially, short of taking the most daring step – approving same-sex marriage. Some leading Catholic clerical and theological figures have used the distinction to mitigate the message drawn from Pope Francis’ interview, pointing out how the Church’s doctrine on marriage, which is defined as being solely between a man and a woman, remains unchanged.

Archbishop Bruno Forte, one of Italy’s most prominent theologians, echoed such arguments when commenting on the documentary. “Rights must be respected,” he told the country’s National Associated Press Agency. “But the Pope always reiterates that there can’t be any confusion between the family wanted by God and every other kind of union.”

Non-religious, socially liberal camps, on the other hand, may see such an endorsement of civil unions as overdue and lacking any particular merit. In countries like Britain or the US, where the battle for same-sex marriage has long been won, civil unions for gay people appear far from “progressive”, and have even drawn comparisons to the racist, segregationist “separate, but equal” laws of Jim Crow-era America.

However, one must carefully consider the context from which Pope Francis is speaking. He comes from a Church where homosexuality has been condemned as a “tendency… towards an intrinsic moral evil”, and whose Catechism deems same-sex sexual activity as “intrinsically disordered”. Furthermore, he lives in a microstate surrounded by a country whose track record on LGBTQ+ rights has lagged significantly behind its neighbours in Western Europe – with civil unions only having gained recognition four years ago.

It is worth remembering that Pope Francis’ two predecessors, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II, used a decidedly different rhetoric when approaching the question of same-sex relationships and civil unions. The former associated gay marriage with “the Antichrist”, while the latter questioned whether “homosexual unions” could be considered part of an “ideology of evil”. Such open opposition to same-sex partnerships permeates the high ranks of the Catholic Church, as the Italian episcopal conference (CEI) denounced the “equivalence between [civil unions and] marriage” in 2016.

And it’s far from confined to the upper echelons of the clergy. My grandmother from Milan, a devout, yet socially progressive Catholic, has railed against her own local priest who routinely attacks LGBTQ+ rights on the parish newsletter and, in one pamphlet she showed me, criticised the “normal[isation] of homosexuality”.

Moreover, Pope Francis has already been facing considerable opposition from many powerful, conservative Catholic voices for his stances and overall approach to social issues. Some, especially in Italy, have questioned his legitimacy as pontiff, or even as a Catholic, altogether. The Church has seen its conservative factions grow increasingly vocal since he was appointed, alongside the concerning rise of a rancorous brand of Catholic fundamentalism, whose cosying up to far-right political forces is best exemplified by the “Family Day” rally in Verona last year.

And if there’s one sentiment that truly unites the “Catholic right”, it’s their unabashed opposition to Pope Francis. It’s something I’ve even witnessed first-hand, as I’ve seen countless Italian conservative family acquaintances, who once shuddered at the thought of daring to criticise a Pope, now vehemently rally against someone they perceive to be a kind of “Marxist imposter” infiltrating the Vatican.

For him not only to come out with a supportive statement towards gay couples, but to claim they have the “right to a family”, which would imply the right to adopt, is an incredible act of courage when one considers the vitriolic onslaught he is bound to receive

But even more important than the uproar such a statement will undoubtedly trigger is the life-changing impact it can have on the LGBTQ+ Catholic community. Countless queer Catholics, particularly those who are young, struggle to reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation, and consequently don’t feel welcome in their churches and families. I had the fortune of being raised in a liberal, accepting Catholic family, but that is not the case for many other LGBTQ+ youths who fear being ostracised or even kicked out by their parents as a result of their identity. For people like them, hearing the Pope’s words may offer the kind of solace that could even save them from taking their lives – a considerable risk among queer youths.

While my personal faith may have waned over the years, I remain close to my Catholic roots, and consequently hugely embrace the effect which Pope Francis’ declaration has had on LGBTQ+ people like myself. It’s a sentiment which was shared by a friend of mine, Leonardo*, who happens to be gay and Catholic, as soon as I spoke to him after the news came out. “This is a huge step forward,” he told me, “that allows gay people to overcome the conflict between their faith and their homosexuality, and thus live their Christian beliefs more serenely.”

Pope Francis may have not radically impinged upon Catholic doctrine, nor will his statement ensure that gay people and couples will be unanimously welcomed into churches around the world. Moreover, some secular progressives may still view him as little more than the head of an institution which continues to uphold what can at best be described as heteronormative, and, at worst, outrightly homophobic stances. But this doesn’t change two vital things: the Pope explicitly recognises the validity of same-sex couples’ right to build a life together, and he welcomes gay people like everyone else, in spite of the virulent hostility he is sure to encounter from many within the Church.

This in itself is nothing short of revolutionary, and it’s vital that we both acknowledge and appreciate the sheer magnitude of the impact his words will have on fellow LGBTQ+ Catholics around the world.

*Name changed upon his request